Poor Richard's Women: An Intimate Portrait of Benjamin Franklin

Fraunces Tavern Museum

In this lecture, recorded October 6, 2022. Nancy Rubin Stuart reveals the long-neglected voices of the women Ben loved and lost during his lifelong struggle between passion and prudence. Weaving detailed historical research with emotional intensity and personal testimony, Nancy Rubin Stuart traces the life of Deborah Reed Franklin—Ben’s common-law wife and partner of 44 years— and those of Ben’s other romantic attachments through their personal correspondence, giving an intimate look into the lives of these larger forgotten women.